Cameras

Today Google activated 360-degree video on YouTube. This system works with a number of 360-degree or otherwise bubble-lens camera video media available to consumers now, and will be coming your way via SlashGear imminently. We've got a couple on hand, that is to say, and we'll be presenting large amounts of video from events, hands-on experiences, and much more in the near future. For now you're going to want to check out some of the most basic media uploaded to YouTube by a variety of artists.

We've seen some instances of galleries banning the use of selfie sticks, and now the National Gallery in London has decided to join them, making the decision to ban camera monopods due to a variety of reasons, not the least being that you might accidentally jab someone (or something) with it. The gallery already banned the use of tripods, and though it was originally lax when it came to the use of "selfie sticks", it has decided to include them in the tripod ban.

Out of all the odd ways one can get a world record, this probably isn't the oddest of them. Still, one photographer's plan to take the longest-ever photo exposure is unusual, and a lot can go wrong in a thousand years (invading aliens, an earthquake where the camera's located, etc). The camera will be debuting tomorrow at the Arizona State University Art Museum, which will be home for the camera. The final image won't be finished until the year 3,015, long after the photographer has passed on.

Unless you're a photographer, your smartphone camera is probably your primary camera. Though it is convenient, there are times when having a dedicated camera can come in handy as well (like when you're wanting to record from a drone or underwater). Podo is one of those little standalone cameras that target the everyday consumer and work with the tech you already have (again, your smartphone). It's smaller than a compact digital camera, however, and can be stuck on surfaces with its adhesive backing.

Sony has announced the arrival of new lenses and converters, with there being four lenses for its A7 lineup and a couple sets of coverters for both the already-available 16mm and 20mm APS-C E-mount lenses, as well as the new 28mm F2 full-frame FE lens. The new lenses meet a variety of needs, and include a full-frame zoom and wide-angle prime offering, among others. The first of these lenses will be arriving later this month, while there will be a bit of a longer wait for the others.

If you've ever wanted a GoPro but couldn't part with the cash, then this may be your chance. Chinese company Xiaomi just unveiled their newest action-ready camera at MWC2015. Xiaomi's Yi camera will retail for only $64 USD, which is less than half the price of GoPro's basic Hero model which sells for $130 USD. It offers better technical specs than the GoPro Hero, but it is lacking in other respects. We'll take a look at they compare, and if we can even get our hands on a Yi cam stateside.

Leica is collaborating with Lenny Kravitz to create a special edition camera. Kravitz made his name in the music industry, and has since transferred his talents to worlds of art and design. This collaboration, the "Correspondent," is a luxury professional camera set which pairs the mechanics of Leica photography and the styling Kravitz is known for. The Kravitz model is a redesigned Leica M-P. It comes with two Leica lenses, the Summicron-M 35mm and the Summilux-M 50mm. It's all packaged in a sophisticated snakeskin custom case, and the Correspondent camera is covered same black, glossy snakeskin.

Canon’s earnings report last month confirmed the trend we’ve seen time and again: consumers are gravitating toward mobile cameras as being their only camera, so much so that traditional camera sales are down and camera makers are hurting. We see photos taken with smartphones all over the Internet, and there’s no shortage of love for them. Still, you’ll notice that many of the images aren’t the greatest in terms of image quality, and in many of those cases those issues could have been avoided with some basic preparation and settings.

Cycling can be a dangerous ordeal, namely because of vehicles and the hostility that sometimes exists between drivers and cyclists. For this reason, many cyclists choose to have a camera on their bike, a dash cam of sorts that keeps tabs on surroundings and that serves as evidence in the case of an accident. Fly12 is one of the newest cameras for cyclists to surface, and it brings a bit more to the table than your average action cam -- namely, it doubles as a headlight when its dark and as a safety light when its daytime.

SpotCam has announced the upcoming arrival of its new SpotCam HD Pro, a consumer-level security camera designed specifically for outdoor use (though, of course, it'd do just fine indoors, too). The camera is reasonably durable and both water/dustproof (IP65 certified), which is enough to withstand the rain or any dust that's blowing around. This is coupled with a mixture of cloud-based footage storage, mobile control via Android and iOS apps, and simplistic functionality that makes setup fairly quick and painless.